Search results for 'frame':

frame noun 1 a hard main structure or basis to something, round which something is built or to which other parts are added. 2 a structure that surrounds and supports something • put the picture in a frame. 3 something that surrounds • her face with its frame of dark hair. 4 a body, especially a human one, as a structure of a certain size and shape • eased his tall frame into the chair. 5 one of the pictures that make up a strip of film. 6 a single television picture, eg a still picture seen when the pause button on a video player is pressed. 7 one of the pictures in a comic strip. 8 a low glass or semi-glazed structure for protecting young plants growing out of doors, which is smaller than a greenhouse. Also called cold frame. 9 a framework of bars, eg in a playground for children to play on • climbing frame. 10 snooker, etc a a triangular structure for confining the balls for the break (noun 8) at the start of a round; b each of the rounds of play, a pre-determined number of which constitute the entire match. 11 the rigid part of a bicycle, usually made of metal tubes. verb (framed, framing) 1 to put a frame round something • Pauline framed the picture. 2 to be a frame for something. 3 to compose or design something • He framed the question with simple words. 4 to shape or direct (one's thoughts, actions, etc) for a particular purpose. 5 colloq to dishonestly direct suspicion for a crime, etc at (an innocent person). See also frame-up. frameless adj. framer noun. framing noun.
ETYMOLOGY: Anglo-Saxon framian to benefit.